Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging in Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy, and Treatment Assessment

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Imaging and Theranostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2025 | Viewed by 280

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Guest Editor
BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Interests: medical imaging; molecular imaging; PET/CT; theranostics; cancer imaging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nuclear medicine and molecular imaging have transformed cancer management by providing unparalleled insights into tumor biology. These modalities are integral not only for early detection and precise staging but also for guiding targeted therapy, monitoring disease progression, predicting prognosis, and assessing minimal residual disease. The integration of advanced imaging technologies such as PET, SPECT, PET/CT, and PET/MRI, along with novel radiopharmaceuticals and theranostic agents, has significantly improved diagnostic accuracy and personalized treatment strategies. Furthermore, innovations in artificial intelligence, radiomics, quantitative imaging biomarkers, and multi-parametric imaging are enhancing precision in oncologic decision-making. This Special Issue invites contributions on a broad spectrum of topics, including novel radiotracers, AI-driven image analysis, multi-modal imaging applications, and the evolving role of nuclear medicine in precision oncology. We welcome original research, reviews, and clinical studies that contribute to the advancement of molecular imaging in cancer diagnosis, treatment planning, and therapeutic assessment.

Dr. Sara Harsini
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • nuclear medicine
  • molecular imaging
  • PET/CT
  • theranostics
  • cancer diagnosis
  • treatment monitoring

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 1228 KiB  
Article
The Biochemical–Imaging Connection: Urinary Noradrenaline and Fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography in Unresectable or Metastatic Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas
by Junki Takenaka, Shiro Watanabe, Takashige Abe, Satoshi Takeuchi, Kenji Hirata, Rina Kimura, Hiroshi Ishii, Naoto Wakabayashi, Mungunkhuyag Majigsuren and Kohsuke Kudo
Diagnostics 2025, 15(11), 1305; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15111305 - 22 May 2025
Viewed by 98
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare tumors of neural crest origin that secrete varying levels of catecholamines. [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is a valuable tool for the detection of metastases and the prediction of prognoses. However, varying FDG avidities in [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare tumors of neural crest origin that secrete varying levels of catecholamines. [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is a valuable tool for the detection of metastases and the prediction of prognoses. However, varying FDG avidities in PPGLs raise concerns regarding cost-effectiveness and unnecessary radiation exposure. Catecholamine secretion patterns are associated with metastasis and clinical outcomes. This study aimed to explore the relationships among FDG avidity, catecholamine levels, and clinical factors in patients with PPGLs. Methods: This retrospective study included 25 patients with unresectable or metastatic PPGLs scheduled for [131I]metaiodobenzylguanidine therapy with FDG-PET data available within 40 days of urine catecholamine measurements. FDG avidity was assessed using semiquantitative parameters such as the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), total metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). Urine catecholamine levels were quantified. Logistic regression and Spearman’s correlation were performed to evaluate the relationship between FDG parameters and urinary catecholamine levels. Results: Urinary noradrenaline levels were significantly higher in patients with FDG-avid lesions than in those without (726.25 μg/day vs. 166.3 μg/day, p = 0.001). Noradrenaline levels showed significant positive correlations with SUVmax, MTV, and TLG (ρ = 0.527, 0.541, and 0.557, respectively; all p < 0.01). Urinary noradrenaline levels predicted FDG avidity with an AUC of 0.849; a cutoff value of 647.5 μg/day achieved 55.6% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Conclusions: Urinary noradrenaline levels were significantly associated with FDG avidity in PPGLs, suggesting their potential utility in predicting FDG-PET outcomes. Therefore, FDG-PET may be unnecessary in PPGL patients with low urinary noradrenaline levels. These findings may help optimize imaging strategies for patients with PPGLs. Full article
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